Which is the best city in world to study?

May 10, 2018

London ranked the best city for students, Tokyo – 2nd and Paris -9th

London is the best city in the world for university students, according to new international rankings.

The UK capital overtook last year’s top-placed city Montreal to rank as number one in the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2018 of top 30 rankings.
The ratings are based on factors such as the number of top universities in a city, the local jobs market, the diversity of the culture and the quality of life, according to the report.

But London ranked poorly on one factor – affordability. The ranking of university cities, rather than the quality of institutions, is produced by the QS higher education group, which publishes the annual World University Rankings.
The comparisons, which include a survey of the views of 50,000 students, are an attempt to quantify some of the attractions and disadvantages of cities for students.

In second place is Tokyo, which does very well in terms of the “desirability” of the city. This measures factors such as safety, pollution and quality of living, it said.
Melbourne is ranked as the third best city for students and Sydney is ninth.
In the academic World University Rankings, US universities dominate, taking all four of the top places in a league table headed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A high concentration of world-class universities such as University College London and Imperial College London also play a part in making the city attractive to students.

Ben Sowter, research director at QS, said: “The 2018 ranking highlights the enduring quality of the student experience available in London. “The city benefits from outstanding employment prospects, more world-class universities than any other city, and enviable lifestyle opportunities. “These factors mean that the capital remains a great place to study despite eye-watering costs.”

The United States failed to see any of its cities make the top 10. Paris, this year ranked fifth, topped the table in 2016.